Where would you like to sign in?

Government Invests in New Fitness Facility for CFB Shilo

CFB SHILO, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - Feb. 12, 2010) - Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, and Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris, on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, today announced the grand opening of a newly expanded fitness centre at Canadian Forces Base Shilo. This project generated economic benefits for the local community, and created approximately 85 direct employment opportunities throughout the course of the work.

"This investment in defence infrastructure is an excellent example of this Government's commitment to provide the Canadian Forces with the modern facilities they need to do their jobs," said Mr. Hawn. "This new facility will provide the additional space and resources required to enhance the readiness of the Canadian Forces."

"The Canadian Forces are an integral part of our community," said Mr. Tweed. "The new facilities are important to maintain morale and physical training of our men and women in uniform."

This project involved renovations to the fitness centre at CFB Shilo, and the construction of a two storey extension to the existing facility. The construction included a new gym floor with two courts, a four lane indoor running track, general purpose spaces, and additional washrooms and change rooms. Overall, this project constructed an additional 4 300 square metres to the existing facility, providing the additional training accommodations required for the base personnel at CFB Shilo.

The Government of Canada conducted open, fair, and transparent competitive processes in order to award the construction contract for the project at CFB Shilo. The Canada First Defence Strategy reflects a renewed commitment to domestic security and investments in defence infrastructure that generate economic benefits for Canadian industry.

The Department of National Defence holds a large number of properties all across the country to support the Canadian Forces, including some 21,000 buildings, 2.25 million hectares of land, 5,500 kilometres of roads, and 3,000 kilometres of water, storm, and sewer pipes.